Howson's double turns the tables for Leeds

Thursday 15 May 2008 19.43 EDT
First published on Thursday 15 May 2008 19.43 EDT

Leeds United are marching on together to Wembley after a left-foot strike from Jonathan Howson in injury-time propelled Gary McAllister's side into the League One play-off final. It was Howson's second goal of the game and meant Leeds had overcome a first-leg deficit and will face Doncaster Rovers or Southend United, who play tonight, in the final on Sunday week.

Asked how he felt, McAllister said: "What's the Scottish for fantastic? Fan-dabi-dozi." Dougie Freedman had offered Leeds a lifeline by scoring in the fifth minute of stoppage time at Elland Road on Monday and the same striker helped create an early goal for McAllister's side here.

Howson's connection with the Crystal Palace loanee's left-wing cross and his close-range finish left the aggregate score 2-2 and confirmed Freedman's importance to Leeds. Indeed McAllister admits his side would never have even reached the play-offs had he not been able to borrow the forward from Selhurst Park.

The goal's preamble also offered proof of the passing game McAllister is attempting to school his players in and saw Howson's intelligent pass release Freedman down the flank before their effective one-two concluded with the ball in the net.

By then Carlisle had seen a penalty appeal turned down by Alan Wiley when Scott Dobie took a suspiciously theatrical tumble and Grant Smith lift a decent chance over the bar. With John Ward's distinctly nervy side struggling to muster any sort of cohesion the Cumbrian crowd vented their frustrations on Paul Huntington, the Carlisle-born Leeds defender.

With Neil Kilkenny impressing, Leeds began the second half in threatening mode but both sides found their final pass wanting and the game craved a midfielder as measured as McAllister used to be. For all that he was dressed in a sober grey suit, he cut an animated touchline persona and once was jokingly ticked off by Ward as he appeared poised to dash on to the pitch.

As extra-time loomed Leeds first hit the post through Bradley Johnson's header and then Keiren Westwood was forced to dive low to repel Freedman's stinging 25-yard shot. Then, just after the fourth official had indicated a minute's added time, the ball broke loose on the edge of the box and Howson shot imperiously into the bottom left-hand corner.